School millage up for vote Tuesday

Monday

Feb 25, 2013 at 10:51 AMFeb 25, 2013 at 10:51 AM

By Andy Barrandandy.barrand@hillsdale.net?JONESVILLE — Registered voters in the Jonesville Community School district will have the opportunity to go to the polls Tuesday to vote on the schools’ operating millage.? Superintendent Chellie Broesamle said that the outcome of the vote is an important one for the corporation.? The operating millage is not a new tax and it is not a tax on homeowners. The tax is paid by businesses all over the state to support the operations of the schools. In Jonesville the tax accounts for eight-percent of the operating budget for the school. The millage brings $924,748 to the school system on a yearly basis.?Voting will take place at Fayette Township Hall at 211 North Street, Jonesville from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots can also be picked up at the Hillsdale County Clerk’s Office, room 1, Hillsdale County Courthouse.?Voting is open to any registered voter in Adams, Allen, Fayette, Hillsdale, Litchfield, Moscow of Scipio townships. Voters in Pulaski Township in Jackson County who live within the school district are also eligible to vote.?Broesamle said the school system has sent postcards out to all registered voters within the district urging them to vote.?She urges anyone that may be confused about the millage to contact the school at 849-9075.?“We are looking for a good turnout,” she said.?After a recount on Dec. 6 the Jonesville Community Schools operating millage failed to pass by six votes, something that was disheartening to corporation officialsBroesamle said the millage is essential to the school system’s budget.?“The Jonesville community has always been supportive of its school system and we appreciate their support,” she said. “I believe that if the voters understand that this is a non-homestead tax that is required to keep our facilities running, they will vote for it overwhelmingly.”?Jonesville Community Schools is the largest school district in the county, serving 1,482 students.?Broesamle said if the millage doesn’t pass, everything that is not direct teaching and learning would have to be considered for cuts in order to keep the budget balanced.?She said that could include cuts to sports, transportation, clubs and supplies.?Broesamle believes the millage didn’t pass during the general election because of the number of issues that were on the ballot.